Packaging machine and method



Jan. 3, 1967 P. J. WOOD PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 17, 1965 IN VENTOR.

PRENTlCE J. WOOD ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1967 P. J. WOOD 3,295,291

PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed June 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

United States Extent 3,295,291 PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Prentice J.Wood, Joneshoro, Ga., assignor to The Mead Corporation, a corporation ofOhio Filed June 17, 1963, Ser. No. 288,083 13 (Ilaims. (Cl. 53-32) Thisinvention relates to a packaging machine and method and moreparticularly to a machine and method for applying a wrap-around type ofblank to a group of articles to be packaged wherein the carrier blankcomprises top and side panels as well as end panels foldably joined tothe end edges of the top panels, anchor panels foldably joined to theend edges of the side panels and adapted to fold flat against the innersurfaces of the side walls and in which webb structure is interconnectedbetween the ends of the end panels and the adjacent ends of the anchorpanels.

Patent application Serial No. 173,581, filed February 15, 1962 nowPatent No. 3,127,720 discloses and claims a machine and method forapplying a wrap-around type of wrapper blank having end panels andwherein the articles to be packaged preferably though not necessarilyare bottles having tapered neck portions to the ends of which sealingcaps are applied.

This invention is primarily applicable though not necessarily limited toa wrapper of the type referred to above but which is specially adaptedfor packaging cans having chimes at the ends thereof.

Where the articles to be packaged are chimed cans and where the wrapperis provided with end panels, it is necessary to secure the end panels ina very snug relation about the ends of the articles to be packaged.Furthermore, in order to provide a machine and method which iscommercially feasible, the snugly secured end panels must be moved intoproper position with respect to the articles to be packaged at a highrate of speed.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved machineand method for use in conjunction with a wrap-around type of blankhaving end panels at each end and wherein the machine, method andwrapper are specially adapted, though not necessarily limited, topackaging cans having chimed ends.

The invention in one form as applied to a high speed packaging machineis for the purpose of adapting such a machine to a wrap-around wrapperblank having an end panel at each end and comprises an endless tuckingconveyor having a tucking reach disposed immediately above the path ofmovement of the groups of articles to be packaged and movable insynchronism therewith. According to a feature of the invention tuckingsupports are slidably mounted on the conveyor and movable in transverserelation thereto and a cam surface is disposed for engagement by thetucking supports to impart transverse movement thereto. Tucking pawlsare pivotally mounted on each tucking support and cam levers arepivotally mounted on the supports and interconnected with the tuckingpawls by suitable gear means. A fixed cam surface is disposed to beengaged by the cam levers so as to Swing the tucking pawls intoengagement with the wrapper and thereby to impart downward movementthereto simultaneously with the transverse movement of the tuckingsupport and parts associated therewith. By this means the end panel ateach end of the wrapper blank is securely and snugly folded about theends of the packaged items such, for example, as chimed cans. Accordingto a feature of the invention the tucking pawls move at a different rateof speed from the rate of movement of the cam levers due to the gearratio of the gears interconnecting these elements. According to anotherfeature of the invention biasing means are provided for ice returningthe tucking pawls to their normal positions following completion of acarton forming operation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is an elevation view which inschematic fashion shows the essential elements of a high-speed machineof the type to which the invention is applicable; FIG. 2 is a plan viewof a wrapper blank from which the package is formed and to which thisinvention is particularly applicable; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of apackage formed from the blank depicted in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is aperspective view of a portion of the machine depicted in FIG. 1 anddepicting the essential features of this invention; FIG. 5 is a planview of a portion of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 4; and in whichFIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of a tucking pawl together with itsassociated gear means, support structure, and cam lever.

With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 1 generally designates the frameof the machine. A schematically represented hopper 2 is mounted on theframe 1 and a plurality of wrapper blanks generally designated by thenumeral 3 are stacked on the hopper 2. Suitable means are provided forwithdrawing the blanks from the hopper 3 such, for example as the meansdisclosed in US. Patent 2,817,520 issued December 24, 1957 on anapplication filed by Hermond G. Gentry and ownedby the assignee of thisinvention.

Articles to be packaged such as the chimed cans schematically depictedgenerally by the numeral 4 are fed in from the right and travel towardthe left as indicated by arrow 5. Preferably, the cans are separatedinto groups of two rows of three cans each by suitable means and thewrapper for each group is then applied. Such a wrapper is of the generaltype disclosed in US. Patent 2,786,572 issued March 26, 1957 on anapplication filed by Hermond G. Gentry and owned by the assignee of thisinvention. These wrappers are formed about each package group in amanner such as is disclosed and claimed for example in U.S. Patent2,751,730 issued June 26, 1956 on an application filed by Hermond G.Gentry and owned by the assignee of this invention. The completedpackages are designated in FIG. 1 by the numeral 6. The numeral 6A inFIG. 1 designates a package in which the wrapper blank is but partiallyfolded about a particular package group while the designation 6B isapplied to a package and wrapper blank at a subsequent stage of thepackage forming operation. The blanks 3 are advanced toward the left ona pair of conveyor chains only one of which appears in FIG. 1 and whichis designated by the numeral 7. The blanks are moved toward the left dueto engagement with push tabs 8 which are secured to and movable with thechains 7.

A horizontally disposed boom designated generally by the numeral 9 isprovided. Boom 9 comprises an endless conveyor 10 on which closelyspaced segments are mounted and which hold the wrapper blanks securelyatop each package group. Conveyor 10 rides on pulleys 11 and 12 whichare respectively mounted on shafts 13 and 14, the shafts being securelyaffixed to the frame of the machine in a manner not clearly shown in thedrawings.

The structure of this invention is depicted generally in FIG. 1 andcomprises an endless tucking conveyor designated by the numeral 15 whichis mounted on sprockets 16 and 17, one of which is a driven element andthe other of which is an idler element. Sprocket 16 is mounted on shaft13 while sprocket 17 is mounted on shaft 19.

Generally speaking, suitable tucking pawls are mounted on tuckingconveyor 15 and are arranged so as to slide 3 transversely with respectthereto and so as to swing '0- ward the articles to be packaged andthereby to cause the end panels and associated structure to assume avertical position of snug relationship with the articles being packaged.

With regard to the structure of the carton to which the machine andmethod of this invention are particularly applicable, reference may behad to copending patent application Serial No. 221,565, filed September5, 1962 by Homer W. Forrer, now Patent No. 3,203,584, and assigned tothe assignee of this invention. For the sake of completeness, a briefdescription of the carton is set forth herein. As shown in FIGS. 2 and3, the wrapper comprises a top panel 20 which is foldably joined to sidepanels 21 and 22 along fold lines 23 and 24, respectively. Bottom lappanels 25 and 26 are foldably joined to side panels 21 and 22,respectively, along fold lines 27 and 28. When folded underneath thearticle group, lap panels 25 and 26 are secured together by locking tabs29 and 30 which are driven through the openings defined by retainingtabs 31 and 32. Before the locking operation is performed, the lappanels 25 and 26 are drawn tightly about the article group by machineelements which enter tightening apertures 33 and 34 in panel 25 andtightening apertures 35 and 36 in panel 26. After the wrapper istightened, locking tabs 29 and 30 are driven by machine elements throughthe openings defined by retaining tabs 31 and 32. When the package isformed, the keel panel 37 is disposed between the two rows of packageditems designated by the letter C in FIG. 3.

Finger gripping apertures 38 and 39 are formed in top panel 20 andsuitable can separating tabs 40, 41 and 42 are struck out of top panel20 and folded downwardly between the cans in each row along their foldlines 43, 44 and 45. Foldably joined to the ends of the top panel 20 arethe end panels 46 and 47. Panel 46 is foldably joined along fold line 48to the top panel 21 while end panel 47 is foldably joined along foldline 49 to the top panel 20. Preferably, can chime receiving slots 50and 51 are formed along the fold line 48 while similar slots 52 and 53are formed along the fold line 49.

Anchor panels 54 and 55 are foldably joined to the I end edges 56 and 57of side wall 21. Similarly anchor panels 58 and 59 are foldably joinedto the end edges 60 and 61 of the side wall 22. If desired the tearouttab 62 and suitable tear opening slits 63 may be formed in known manneradjacent the fold line 24 and in the side wall 22.

Reinforcing panel 64 is foldably joined along fold line 65 to the end ofpanel 25 and a complementary retaining tab 66 is formed therein whichcoincides with small corner retaining tab 67 when panel 64 is foldedfiat against the inner surface of panel 25. In like fashion, reinforcingpanel 68 is foldably joined along fold line 69 to the other end of panel25 and a complementary retaining tab 70 coincides with corner retainingtab 71 when panel 68 is folded flat against the inside of panel 25.Disposed at the other end of the carton are similar reinforcing flaps 72and 73 which are foldably joined to the end edges 74 and 75 of bottomlap panel 26. Complementary locking tabs 76 and 77 coincide with theassociated locking tabs 78 and 79, respectively, when the reinforcingstrips 72 and 73 are folded flat against the inside surface of bottomlap panel 26.

Interconnecting the ends of end panels 46 and 47 and the adjacent endsof the adjacent anchor panels are the web structures 80, 81, 82 and 83.These webs are all identical in structure. Web 83 for example isprovided with a fold line which is in reality a continuation of foldline 23. In addition, fold lines 84 and 85 are provided and define thejunctions between the web structure 83 and the adjacent anchor panel 54and the adjacent end of end panel 46.

When the carrier is in setup condition, the end panels are substantiallyvertical as shown in FIG. 3 and each web structure closely engages theperiphery of the adjacent part of the adjacent can. For a more detaileddiscussion of the relationship of the end panels to the packaged itemsand the function of the web structure, reference may be had to theaforementioned patent application Serial No. 221,565.

According to the present invention, the machine and method illustratedin FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6 are utilized to cause the end panels 46 and 47 ofthe carton shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to assume the vertical position whilethe wrapper is being formed about a package group as dis closed andclaimed in the aforementioned Patent 2,75],- 730. In FIG. 4, the lowerportions of the tucking conveyor elements 15A and 1513 move toward theleft as indicated by the arrow 86 and such portions of the conveyor arereferred to herein as the tucking reach of the conveyor. conveyor 15move toward the right as indicated by the arrow 87. Of course, motion ofeach article group is toward the left as indicated by the arrow 5 inFIG. 4. In FIG. 4, only three blanks are depicted and are designated inthe drawing at B1, B2 and B3. It Will be understood that other positionsof the blank are not depicted for the sake of simplicity. In likefashion, it will be understood that a number of tucking pawls and theirsupporting structures are affixed to the tucking conveyor 15. However,for the sake of simplicity only two tucking pawls and their associatedapparatus are depicted. Similarly, it will be understood that eachtucking support is slidably mounted and hence requires a pair of tuckingconveyor elements which in FIG. 4 are designated by the numerals 15A and15B. The structure depicted in FIG. 4 is for folding the webs at oneside of the carton only such for example as the webs 81 and 83. Similarstructure (not shown) to that depicted in FIG. 4 comprising the twotucking conveyor elements is on the near side of the machine andfunctions to fold the webs and 82.

With reference to FIG. 4 the main conveyor belt 88 is supported by drumpulley 89 which is rotatable on shaft 90. A similar drum and shaft, ofcourse, is disposed at the left hand end of the conveyor 88 and one drumis a driven member and the other an idler element. As depicted in FIG. 4the upper reach of the conveyor moves toward the left as is indicated bythe arrow 91 and bears the cans designated by the letter C. As is shownin FIG. 4, a blank such as is designated at B1 is moved up to apredetermined position by the hooks 8 which are mounted on chains 7.Thereafter, the rubber feet 92 mounted on boom 9 engage the top panel 20of the blank and hold the blank securely atop its associated packagegroup. When a particular group of articles to be packaged and itsassociated blank move underneath the tucking conveyor 15 the foldingoperation is effected as depicted at B2 in FIG. 4.

The structure for effecting snug folding of the webs and end panels isdepicted in FIG. 4 and comprises a pair of tucking supports 93 and 94.One support and associated structure is shown in enlarged form in FIG.6. Support 93 is transversely slidable on a pair of rods 95 and 96 whichare secured at their ends to conveyor elements 15A and 15B. In likefashion, tucking support 94 is slidably mounted on rods 97 and 98 whichare secured at their ends to the conveyor elements 15A and 15B.

For the purpose of imparting transverse movement to tucking supports 93and 94, a cam surface 99 is securely afiixed in position as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, when the supports 93 and 94 come into engagementwith the cam surface 99, these elements move inwardly and toward theleft in their direction of travel to the left as indicated by the arrow86. This movement toward the left, of course, is accompanied by inwardmovement to the right of the corresponding tucking supports which are onthe other or near side of the carton and which are not shown in FIG. 4.

Similarly, the upper portions of the tucking Cam support 94 as bestshown in FIG. 6 is provided with a tucking pawl 100 which is pivotallymounted on shaft pin 101 secured to the frame of tucking support 94.Afiixed to and movable with the pin 101 is a pinion 102 which mesheswith a gear segment 102 which segment in turn is affixed to the shaft103 of cam lever 104. A biasing spring 105 is secured at one end 106 totucking support 94 and at the other end 107 to gear segment 102. Biasingelement 105 .as depicted in FIG. 6 imparts clockwise movement to gearsegment 102 and in turn imparts counterclockwise movement to pinion 102and tucking pawl 100.

Mounted to the end of cam lever 104 is a cam roller 108. Cam roller 108is arranged to engage and ride on fixed cam surface 109. From FIG. 4 itis apparent that cam lever 104 of tucking support 94 is inclined towardthe left as viewed in that figure.

Tucking support 95 is similar to tucking support 94 except that itsassociated cam lever 1A is inclined toward the right as viewed in FIG.4. Thus, as cam lever 104A moves from right to left and engages itsassociated cam surface 110, clockwise movement is imparted thereto asviewed in FIG. 4. Such movement imparts counterclockwise swingingmovement to tucking pawl 111 while tucking pawl 100 swings in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 about its pin 101 due to thefact that that cam lever 104 is inclined to the left.

From the description above it is apparent that tucking pawls 111 and 100engage the web structure 81 and 83 respectively as the operationprogresses from right to left and cause the web structure to movelongitudinally inward alongside the adjacent articles to be packaged anddesignated by the letter C. Simultaneously, with the rotary motion oftucking pawls 111 and 100, tucking supports 95 and 94 move transverselyinward toward the package group due to engagement with cam surface 99 sothat the tucking pawls 111 and 100 ride across the web structures 81 and83 and crease the web structures securely alongside the cans to bepackaged. Simultaneously, with the transverse movement of tuckingsupports 93 and 94 and the swinging movement of tucking pawls 111 and100 the anchor panels 54 and 58 are folded along the inner surfaces ofthe side walls 21 and 22 while the reinforcing panels 64 and 72 aresimilarly folded. Simultaneously, with the folding of the web and endpanels as well as the anchor and reinforcing panels, suitable guidesdesignated in FIG. 4 at 112 and 113 engage the side walls 21 and 22,respectively, and due to their particular shape and orientation urge theside walls downwardly alongside the articles to be packaged to theposition designated in FIG. 4 at B3.

After the packaging operation progresses to the point designated at B3,the lap panels 25 and 26 are folded underneath the article group byguides depicted in FIG. 1, for example at 114. Thereafter, the carton istightened and locked by machine elements as is well known.

It will be understood, of course, that the tucking pawl 111 operatessimultaneously and in virtual synchronism with the tucking pawl 115which pawl cooperates with the web structure 82. In like fashion,tucking pawl 116 operates in synchronism with tucking pawl 100, it beingobvious that tucking pawl 116 engages the web structure 00.

Upon completion of a package the tucking supports 94 and 95 move to theright as viewed in FIG. 4 along the upper reaches of conveyor elements Aand 15B. During such movement the tucking supports engage cam 117 andare moved transversely thereby outwardly or toward the left as theyproceed toward the right as viewed in FIG. 4. The tucking supports arethen ready to begin a succeeding cycle.

From the above description it will be understood that by the inventionthe combination transverse and swinging motion of the tucking pawlsimparts a secure can gripping action to the end panels 46 and 47 andthat a secure and sturdy package results.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A machine for packaging a plurality of articles in a wrap-around typeof wrapper, said machine comprising means for advancing a group ofarticles along a predetermined path, means for advancing .a wrapperblank along said path and immediately above a group of articles to bepackaged, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposed immediatelyabove said path and movable in synchronism with the group of articlesand wrapper, a tucking support mounted on said conveyor, a tucking pawlpivotally mounted on said tucking support, a cam lever pivotally mountedon said support, gear means operably interconnecting said tucking pawland cam lever, and a fixed cam surface disposed to be engaged by saidcam lever so as to swing said tucking pawl into engagement with a partof the wrapper and thereby to fold said part of the wrapper downwardlyand generally toward the group of articles.

2. A machine for packaging a plurality of articles in a wrap-around typeof wrapper, said machine comprising means for advancing a group ofarticles along a predetermined path, means for advancing a wrapper blankalong said path and immediately above a group of articles to bepackaged, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposed immediatelyabove said path and movable in synchronism with the group of articlesand wrapper, a tucking support slidably mounted on said conveyor andmovable in a direction transverse to the path of movement of saidtucking reach, a fixed cam surface disposed for engagement by saidtucking support for imparting transverse movement thereto, a tuckingpawl pivotally mounted on said tucking support, and means for impartingswinging movement to said tucking pawl so as to swing said tucking pawlinto engagement with a part of the wrapper and thereby to fold said partof the wrapper downwardly and generally toward the group of articles.

3. A machine for packaging a plurality of articles in a wrap-around typeof wrapper, said machine comprising means for advancing a group ofarticles along a predetermined path, means for advancing a wrapper blankalong said path and immediately above a group of articles to bepackaged, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposed immediatelyabove said path and movable in synchronism with the group of articlesand wrapper, a tucking support slidably mounted on said conveyor andmovable in a direction to the path of movement of said tucking reach, afixed cam surface disposed for engagement by said tucking support forimparting transverse movement thereto, a tucking pawl pivotally mountedon said tucking support, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said support,gear means operably interconnecting said tucking pawl and cam lever, anda fixed cam surface disposed to be engaged by said cam lever so as toswing said tucking pawl into engagement with a part of the wrapper andthereby to fold said part of the wrapper downwardly and generally towardthe group of articles.

4. A machine for packaging a plurality of similarly shaped articles in awrap-around type of Wrapper blank having a top panel to the ends ofwhich a pair of end panels are foldably joined respectively and having apair of side walls to the ends of each of which a pair of anchor panelsare foldably joined respectively and including a collapsible webstructure interconnecting each anchor panel and a different end of oneof the end panels, said machine comprising means for advancing thewrapper blank along a predetermined path in conjunction with a group ofarticles to be packaged therein, the wrapper blank being disposed withone end panel in a leading relation to the group of articles and withthe other end panel in a trailing relation thereto and being above thegroup of articles, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposedimmediately above said path and movable in synchronism with the group ofarticles and wrapper, a pair of tucking supports mounted in spacedrelation on said conveyor, a tucking pawl pivotally mounted on eachtucking support, a cam lever pivotally mounted on each support, gearmeans operably interconnecting each cam lever and the associated tuckingpawl, and a fixed cam surface disposed to be engaged by each of said camlevers so as to swing said tucking pawls into engagement with leadingand trailing parts of the wrapper blank and thereby to fold said partsdownwardly and in the generai direction of the group of articles.

5. A machine according to claim 4 wherein said cam levers extend ingenerally opposite directions from their associated tucking supports soas to impart swinging movement in opposite directions to said tuckingpawls.

6. A machine for packaging a plurality of similarly shaped articles in awrap-around type of wrapper blank having a top panel to the ends ofwhich a pair of end panels are foldably joined respectively and having apair of side walls to the ends of each of which a pair of anchor panelsare foldably joined respectively and including a collapsible webstructure interconnecting each anchor panel and a different end of oneof the end panels, said machine comprising means for advancing thewrapper blank along a predetermined path in conjunction with a group ofarticles to be packaged therein, the wrapper blank being disposed withone end panel in a leading relation to the group of articles and withthe other end panel in a trailing relation thereto and being above thegroup of articles, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposedimmediately above said path and movable in synchronism with the group ofarticles and wrapper, a pair of tucking supports slidably mounted onsaid conveyor and movable in a direction transverse to the path ofmovement of said tucking reach, a fixed cam surface disposed forengagement by said tucking supports for imparting transverse movementthereto, a tucking pawl pivotally mounted on each of said tuckingsupports, and means for imparting swinging movement to said tuckingpawls so as to swing said tucking pawls into engagement with leading andtrailing parts of the wrapper blank and thereby to fold said partsdownwardly and in the general direction of the group of articles.

7. A machine for packaging a plurality of similarly shaped articles in awrap-around type of wrapper blank having a top panel to the ends ofwhich a pair of end panels are foldably joined respectively and having apair of side walls to the ends of each of which a pair of anchor panelsare foldably joined respectively and including a collapsible webstructure interconnecting each anchor panel and a different end of oneof the end panels, said machine comprising means for advancing thewrapper blank along a predetermined path in conjunction with a group ofarticles to be packaged therein, the wrapper blank being disposed withone end panel in a leading relation to the group of articles and withthe other end panel in a trailing relation thereto and being above thegroup of articles, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposedimmediately above said path and movable in synchronism with the group ofarticles and wrapper, a pair of tucking supports slidably mounted onsaid conveyor and movable in a direction transverse to the path ofmovement of said tucking reach, a fixed cam surface disposed forengagement by said tucking supports for imparting transverse movementthereto, a tucking pawl pivotally mounted on each of said tuckingsupports, a cam lever pivotally mounted on each support, gear meansoperably interconnecting each cam lever and the associated tucking pawl,and a fixed cam surface disposed to be engaged by each of said camlevers so as to swing said tucking pawls into engagement with leadingand trailing parts of the wrapper blank and thereby to fold said partsdownwardly and in the general direction of the group of articles.

8. A machine for packaging a plurality of articles in a wrap-around typeof wrapper, said machine comprising means for advancing a group ofarticles along a predetermined path, means for advancing a wrapper blankalong said path and immediately above a group of articles to bepackaged, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposed immediatelyabove said path and movable in synchronism with the group of articlesand wrapper, a tucking support mounted on said conveyor, a tucking pawlpivotally mounted on said tucking support, a cam lever pivotally mountedon said support, gear means operably interconnecting said tucking pawland cam lever, a fixed cam surface disposed to be engaged by said camlever so as to swing said tucking pawl into engagement with a part ofthe wrapper and thereby to fold said part of the wrapper downwardly andgenerally toward the group of articles, and biasing means for impartingswinging movement to said tucking pawl which is opposite in direction tothe folding movement thereof after said cam lever disengages said camsurface.

9. A machine for packaging a plurality of articles in a wrap-around typeof wrapper, said machine comprising means for advancing a group ofarticles along a predetermined path, means for advancing a wrapper blankalong said path and immediately above a group of articles to bepackaged, a tucking conveyor having 'a tucking reach disposedimmediately above said path and movable in synchronism with the group ofarticles and wrapper, a tucking support slidably mounted on saidconveyor and movable in a direction transverse to the path of movementof said tucking reach, a fixed cam surface disposed for engagement bysaid tucking support for imparting transverse movement thereto, atucking pawl pivotally mounted on said tucking support, a cam leverpivotally mounted on said support, gear means operably interconnectingsaid tucking pawl and cam lever, a fixed cam surface disposed to beengaged by said cam lever so as to swing said tucking pawl intoengagement with a part of the wrapper and thereby to fold said part ofthe wrapper downwardly and generally toward the group of articles, andbiasing means reacting between said gear means and said tucking supportand arranged to oppose movement imparted to said tucking pawl due toengagement of said cam lever with said cam surface.

10. A machine for packaging a plurality of articles in a wrap-aroundtype of wrapper, said machine comprising means for advancing a group ofarticles along a predetermined path, means for advancing a wrapper blankalong said path and immediately above a group of articles to bepackaged, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposed immediatelyabove said path and movable in synchronism with the group of articlesand wrapper, a tucking support mounted on said conveyor, a tucking pawlpivotally mounted on said tucking support, a cam lever pivotally mountedon said support, gear means operably interconnecting said tucking pawland cam lever, and a fixed cam surface disposed to be engaged by saidcam lever so as to swing said tucking pawl into engagement with a partof the wrapper and thereby to fold said part of the wrapper downwardlyand generally toward the group of articles, the ratio characterizingsaid gear means being such that movement of said tucking pawl is at afaster rate than movement of said cam lever.

11. A machine for packaging a plurality of articles in a wrap-aroundtype of wrapper, said machine comprising means for advancing a group ofarticles along a predetermined path, means for advancing a wrapper blankalong said path and immediately above a group of articles to bepackaged, a tucking conveyor having a tucking reach disposed immediatelyabove said path and movable in synchronism with the group of articlesand wrapper, a tucking support mounted on said conveyor, a tucking pawlpivotally mounted on said tucking support, a cam lever pivotally mountedon said support, gear means operably interconnecting said tucking pawland cam lever, a fixed cant surface disposed to be engaged by said camlever so as to swing said tucking pawl into engagement with a part ofthe wrapper and thereby to fold said part of the wrapper downwardly andgenerally toward the group of articles, the ratio characterizing saidgear means being such that movement of said tucking pawl is at a fasterrate than movement of said cam lever, and biasing means reacting betweensaid gear means and said tucking support and arranged to oppose movementimparted to said tucking pawl due to engagement of said cam lever withsaid cam surface.

12. A method of packaging a plurality of articles in a wrapper blankhaving a top panel, side panels foldably joined to the side edges of thetop panel, and panels foldably joined respectively to the end edges ofthe top panel, anchor panels foldably joined respectively to the endedges of the side panels, and collapsible web structure respectivelyinterconnecting the end edges of the end panels with the end edges ofthe adjacent anchor panels, the method comprising arranging the articlesin a group of two rows of a plurality of articles in each row, movingthe group along a predetermined path, placing the blank in transverserelation to the path of movement of the articles with the end and anchorpanels in leading and trailing relation, moving the blank in synchronismwith the group of articles, applying a tucking force to each webstructure on both the leading and trailing edges of the blank to foldthe web structure and the end and anchor panels relative to the top andside panels respectively and causing the folded end panels to be securedagainst the articles by moving the point of application of the tuckingforces transversely inwardly of the top panel while the tucking force isbeing applied.

13. A method of packaging a plurality of articles in a Wrapper blankhaving a top panel, side panels foldably joined to the side edges of thetop panel, end panels foldably joined respectively to the end edges ofthe top panel, anchor panels foldably joined respectively to the endedges of the side panels, and collapsible web structure respectivelyinterconnecting the end edges of the end panels with the end edges ofthe adjacent anchor panels, the method comprising arranging the articlesin a group of two rows of a plurality of articles in each row, movingthe group along a predetermined path, placing the blank in transverserelation to the path of movement of the articles with the end and anchorpanels in leading and trailing relation, moving the blank in synchronismwith the group of articles, applying a tucking force to each Webstructure on both the leading and trailing edges of the blank to foldthe web structure and the end and anchor panels relative to the top andside panels respectively and causing the folded end panels to be securedagainst the articles by moving the point of application of the tuckingforces transversely inwardly of the top panel while the tucking force isbeing applied, and simultaneously folding the side panels alongside thegroup of articles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,108,414 10/1963Schleicher et al. 53-48 3,127,720 4/1964 Gentry et al. 53-48 FRANK E.BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner.

12. A METHOD OF PACKAGING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES IN A WRAPPER BLANKHAVING A TOP PANEL, SIDE PANELS FOLABLY JOINED TO THE SIDE EDGES OF THETOP PANEL, AND PANELS FOLDABLY JOINED RESPECTIVELY TO THE END EDGES OFTHE TOP PANEL, ANCHOR PANELS FOLDABLY JOINED RESPECTIVELY TO THE ENDEDGES OF THE SIDE PANELS, AND COLLAPSIBLE WEB STRUCTURE RESPECTIVELYINTERCONNECTING THE END EDGES OF THE END PANELS WITH THE END EDGES OFTHE ADJACENT ANCHOR PANELS, THE METHOD COMPRISING ARRANGING THE ARTICLESIN A GROUP OF TWO ROWS OF A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES IN EACH ROW, MOVINGTHE GROUP ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, PLACING THE BLANK IN TRANSVERSERELATION TO THE PATHH OF MOVEMENT OF THE ARTICLES WITH THE END ANDANCHOR PANELS IN LEADING AND TRAILING RELATION, MOVING THE BLANK INSYNCHRONISM WITH THE GROUP OF ARTICLES, APPLYING A TUCKING FORCE TO EACHWEB STRUCTURE ON BOTH THE LEADING AND TRAILING EDGES OF THE BLANK TOFOLD THE WEB STRUCTURE AND THE END AND ANCHOR PANELS RELATIVE TO THE TOPAND SIDE PANELS RESPECTIVELY AND CAUSING THE FOLDED END PANELS TO BESECURED AGAINST THE ARTICLES BY MOVING THE POINT OF APPLICATION OF THETUCKING FORCES TRANSVERSELY INWARDLY OF THE TOP PANEL WHILE THE TUCKINGFORCE IS BEING APPLIED.